Honduras - Day 6

Our last full day in Honduras was an occasion of celebration and reflection. After a leisurely breakfast, we hit the road to check out some local attractions. Our first stop was to Parque el Picacho, a park near Tegucigalpa with stunning city views, bike trails, a steep staircase inspired by the area’s Mayan culture, a mini replica of the Eiffel Tower, and an enormous statue of Jesus. We enjoyed some refreshments and sat under the shade to enjoy this impressive landscape before heading to our next destination.

The Valley of Angels is an historic mining town with 16th century architecture, bustling shops and restaurants, and is bookended by beautiful murals. We grabbed a delicious Honduran buffet for lunch at Restaurante La Casona, a charming cafe with ample patio seating and enveloped in local flora. This would be our final meal with our amazing group of translators and the prodigious Pastor Rigo. We had to grab a private room to accommodate our entire group, but we were able to let some fresh air in through the exterior doors to maintain a connection to the outside world.

Bryan, one of our translators, led a small group of us to a local cafe tucked away in a corner of the town. We grab some outdoor seating to admire magnificent and dense vegetation that stretched off into the distant mountain tops. Our barista brewed us fresh pour over coffees containing their own special blend, a smooth and fruity concoction that I could happily sip on all day.

We were finally dropped off at the Humaya Inn, the same hotel where spent the first night, just one week prior. We said our goodbyes to Bessy, Gustavo, Leydi, and Rigo, as this would be our last meeting of the trip. I am fairly certain I had failed to convey the full extent of gratitude I felt towards them, and just how important a role they played for all of us. They were not only our interpreters, but they also naturally filled the part of tour guide and cultural expert, historian, driver (this was very important!), and friend (the most important). I look forward to serving with each one of them again in the future.

Our last evening of devotionals was perhaps our most poignant. We discussed our personal feelings about how the trip affected us, and what next steps to which we felt called upon arriving back home. In Honduras, we found a culture of unyielding gratitude in spite of challenging conditions and unfavorable odds. These were a people who lived out the words and actions of Jesus in a way that would humble anyone with privilege.

Many of us expressed a hunger to continue pursuing community service, both locally and abroad. I am so thankful to be part of Resurrection because it is a place that lives and breathes service to God and to His children. If there is a need somewhere that is not being filled, they are open to devising strategies to fill that gap.

I have already begun brainstorming ways to stack the reach of my own impact as an individual, and how to assemble a team with the means to radiate Christ’s light and love, far and wide. This trip has changed me for the better and I am confident the lessons I picked up will continue to unfold and guide me through the coming weeks, months and years.